India reports 1.6 billion illegal online gambling visits in three months
A report by the Digital India Foundation has discovered that there were 1.6 billion visits to prohibited online operators; Parimatch, Stake, 1xBet and Batery Bet, in just three months of analysis.
The study by the think tank, reported by The Times of India, found that most illegal gambling visits were organic, with 184 visits coming from organic searches rather than advertising. On the other hand, 42.8 million visitors were directed to these platforms by social media.
The report stated, “Despite repeated government actions, including website blocking and advisories, illegal operators continue to thrive, leveraging advanced digital marketing tactics, seamless payment processing and mirror websites to evade enforcement.”
Three mirror sites of the Cyprus-based gambling platform Parimatch accounted for 266 million visits alone, highlighting the rise of unregulated betting in India.
The report continued, “While major digital platforms prohibit betting and gambling-related promotions, enforcement remains highly inconsistent. Advertisements on Facebook’s Ad Network have grown exponentially in recent years.”
To address the issues caused by illegal gambling platforms, the report recommended a new government approach, including stricter media and financial regulations to curb illegal betting and gambling operations.
“India must shift from its fragmented enforcement strategy to a comprehensive, ecosystem-based approach that effectively disrupts the key enablers sustaining illegal betting and gambling operations,” the report said.
Charlotte Capewell brings her passion for storytelling and expertise in writing, researching, and the gambling industry to every article she writes. Her specialties include the US gambling industry, regulator legislation, igaming, and more.
